The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-09-24
RALPH.



ing Man of the House.
81 will take Ralph, Jemimar'
Take Ralph, Iehabod! can't think
of such thing. | can t spare my boy.
There are so few of us now, brothcr!"
But what. under the canopy, are
you going to do with q great growing
boy, eating you out of house and home,
at the age when he needs q man to look
after him, too? tell you, Jcmima, it s
nonsense. Bundle up the boy S clothes
and let him jump into the cart and 90
with me. His aunt Polly'u see that
he has plenty to do, and he can stop in
now and then to see you on market
days, if you like. Well do well by t.
boy, Jemima. Don't turn away Il fair
offer. Come, Ralph, you know which
side your bread is buttered on. You
want to 90 home with me, don't you?'
1t hardly seemed possible that this
coarse-looking, red-faced man, a regu-
lar Uncle Pumblechook of man, could
be own brother to the slender, refined
woman in widows mourning against
whom the boy was leaning, his arm
thrown fondly around her shoulder.
The thought of living with Uncle Icha-
bod and Aunt Polly was hateful, and
Ralph shuddercd at the bare idea.
But he was a well-trained boy, and
politely answered: II can not leave
mamma, uncle. Papa told me that 1
was to be the man of the house"
Papa had died month ago.
"Humph! Pretty man of the house
you'll be! Need a man over you l
say?' And storming and clustering,
Uncle Ichabod departed, slamming the
door behind him, and driving old
Whitcface clattcrty-bang down the
road at Il great pace.
Il hope I've done wisely, Ralph, "
said Mrs. Afford, smoothing back her
boys fair hair. 1--WE have very little
money, and your uncle is rich"
81 won't cat any more than l can
help, mamma, and I'd stop growing so
fast if possibly could"
"Bless the dear child! Eat all you
want, laddie, and don't worry about
growing. The sooner you grow to be
tall m n, as papa was, the sooner
you will be able to take good care of
mamma and your sisters
If there was very little money in the
Affords home, there was something
much better-a great deal of love.
Mrs. Afford knew how to be merry
over bread and milk, and not to cloud
her children's pleasure, she kept u
cheerful face ever when she felt sad
and lonely. Ralph went to school
every day, and tried not to worry his
mother by complaints; but it was hard
for a boy of eleven to wear trousers
which were too short in the legs, and
jackets which persisted in getting tight
over the chest, with sleeves which
crept halfway to the elbow.
One day Miss Meredith, his teacher
in the day-school where he attended,
asked him to remain few moments.
She knew how bravcly and patiently
the little man of the house was bearing
his heavy burden, and so she wished to
encourage him all she could, and keep
his spirits up.
Ralph, dear" she said.
Eyes, Miss Meredith"
You are wonderfully good reader
for your age. Haven't you been used
to reading aloud?"
Eyes, Miss Meredith" answered
Ralph; 81 used TO read to papa every
day, the paper and stories and poetry
and the Bible"
II thought so. Now l have pro-
posal TO make. There is blind lady
in the house where | board; she re-
quires somebody to amu'c her; and she
will pay three dollars week to u per-
son who can read to her two hours
every day. | have been thinking that
| could excuse you every morning at q
quarter before twelve, and let you run
home, eat your luncheon and then YOU
might go to Mrs. Merrifeld for an
hour. Then if you could give her an
other hour from four to five in the
afternoon, she would be satisfied"
Ralph almost jumped for JOY at the
prospect of earning three dollars n
week. Why, how glad he would be to
help mamma so much rs that! That
S0ould be like the man of the house.
Miss Meredith proceeded; MRS.
Merri1ield is an abrupt old lady, and
sometimes rather impatient in her
manner. You must not mind her plain
speaking, however, And her taste in